Top 50 of 2017 So Far

To celebrate the passing of the first six months of the year here are is our pick of the best century of songs released this year so far. Agree or disagree? Leave your comments at the bottom!

50. Niall Horan - Slow Hands
Released: May

49. K I D - Taker
Released: March

48. Alex Hulme - Family Tree
Released: April

47. The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This
Released: February

46. Gavin James - I Don't Know Why
Released: February

45. Maximo Park - Get High (No, I Don't)
Released: March

44. Dani Sylvia - Perfection Generation
Released: June

43. JP Cooper - Passport Home
Released: May

42. Mike + The Mechanics - Don't Know What Came Over Me
Released: February

41. Hunter Hayes - Yesterday's Song
Released: March

40. MAN WITH A MISSION - Dead End in Tokyo
Released: January

39. Emma Stevens - Sing Out (Hey La Hey Lo)
Released: June

38. Chlöe Howl - Magnetic
Released: June

37. DJ Premier X Miguel - 2 Lovin U
Released: March

36. Harry Styles - Sign of the Times
Released: May

35. Dua Lipa feat. Miguel - Lost In Your Light
Released: May

34. Be The Bear - Erupt
Released: June

33. Machine Gun Kelly & Camila Cabello - Bad Things
Released: May

32. Hurts - Beautiful Ones
Released: April

31. Hanson - I Was Born
Released: May

30. Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl
Released: May

29. Anne-Marie - Ciao Adios
Released: March

28. Julia Michaels - Issues
Released: March

27. RYDER - Nirvana
Released: March

26. Kirsty Churchill - I Was Not Looking
Released: March

25. Erasure - Love You to the Sky
Released: March

24. Lover - Fallen Famous
Released: April

23. Amy Macdonald - Dream On
Released: January

22. Emeli Sandé - Highs & Lows
Released: January

21. Samuel Sim and Tracy Kashi - Hourglass
Released: January

20. Holly Brewer - Wish I Loved You More
Released: January

19. Deep Purple - Johnny's Band
Released: June

18. DNCE feat. Nicki Minaj - Kissing Strangers 
Released: May

17. Fjokra - Sick Kids
Released: April

16. Calum Foad - You & I
Released: February

15. Brenda Veila - Trouble
Released: March

14. Hafdis Huld - Take Me Dancing
Released: June

13. Lady Gaga - The Cure
Released: April

12. Zedd and Alessia Cara - Stay
Released: April

11. Blondie - Long Time 
Released: April

10. Robbie Williams - Mixed Signals
Released: February

9. Picturehouse - Sunburst

Released: June

8. LP - Lost On You
Released: May

7. Rag 'n' Bone Man - Skin
Released: March

6. Steps - Scared of the Dark
Released: April

5. Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter
Released: February

4. Dan Auberbach - Shine On Me
Released: March

3. The Killers - The Man
Released: June

2. Train - Drink Up
Released: May

1. Paramore - Hard Times
Released: April

So what do you think of our list? Let us know in the comments below!

In January we'll be presenting the full 100 songs of the year? Will the above still be in it or what about some of these impending videos out in July so missing out on this list?

The Rocking Horse Club - Straight White Man

Kerri Watt - Old School Love
The Allergies - Entitled To That

Indalo Man - Te Quiero Mucho

Shaun Kelly and the Returned Gifts - Cadillac

(And if you're really into your stats here are some of the songs that narrowly missed out of being in our top fifty, all well worth listening to!)

Alison Krauss - Losing You (January)

Andrew Applepie & Bjurman - Drowning World (June)

Clean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson – Symphony (March)

Earl - Tongue Tied (February)

Fancy Cars feat. Foy - Heart of Stone (January)

Hannah Grace - Praise You (April)

Hannah's Yard - Doin It For Myself (May)

Hebe - Take Him Down (June)

Imagine Dragons - Thunder (May)

Imelda May - Should've Been You (April)

Jack Savoretti - We Are Bound (May)

James Blunt - Love Me Better (February)

Jamiroquai - Cloud 9 (February)

Jazz Mino - Footprints (February)

Jennifer Hudson - Remember Me (April)

Kasabian - Bless This Acid House (June)

Lady Antebellum - You Look Good (January)

Little Mix - Touch (January)

Marc Almond - A Kind Of Love (February)

Mark Villarosa - Hangover (February)

Mauro Dirago - Slave For You (May)

MissinCat - Made of Stone (February)

Nina Schofield - Beat Another Rhythm (May)

Olivia Garcia - Freedom Hearts (January)

Rodina - What If (January)

Sharon Shannon - The Machine (May)

Sigrid - Don't Kill My Vibe (March)

Someday - Clean Couch (April)

Sparks - What The Hell Is It This Time? (May)

Take That - Giants (March)

Tallia Storm - Still In Love (March)

Tape Machines feat. Sam Seg - s.t.u.p.i.d (June)

The Ghibertins - Breath For Me (May)

The Kooks - Be Who You Are

The Pocket Gods - The Perfect Blue (April)

The Shires - Drive (April)

The Slvr Tongues - Ain't Just the Whiskey (April)

The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming (March)

Tuxedo - 2nd Time Around (March)

Young Astronaut - Chasing El Dorado (February)

KBPS Interview: Calum Foad

Calum Foad is a 21 year old Singer/Songwriter from Reading who has returned with a huge single called 'You and I' and we got to speak to him all about the song and his future plans!

You have a new single out called ‘You and I’. How would you describe it?

Synth-pop would be the best way to describe it. Some have described it as Human League meets One Direction, which I think is quite complementary!

It has a real bouncy, summery feel to it…

Yeah. The lyrics are a little bit sad. I don’t know how to describe it. There’s like a lost love feel to the lyrics, but we’ve made it really upbeat and hopefully people can get on board with it and sing along!

Do you have any particular influences on your music?

It was a really interesting one. The guy I made the record with over in America did lots of pop-rock bands, like Weezer and Motor City Soundtrack, but they’re obviously keeping track of all the British bands that are going over, like the 1975 and that kind of band that’s becoming big over in the States, so we definitely kind of channelled that sort of stuff. There’s a band called Prides as well, a Scottish band, who do that kind of synth-pop, and they’re a personal favourite of mine, so they were definitely a reference.

Are you a big fan of eighties music?

I absolutely am! Everything and anything from that era!

‘You and I’ was recorded in New York. Was that a good experience?

It was. That was interesting because I’d had a conversation with Mark, admiring his work. He’d asked me to send over some of my material and he asked me to come over and make a record. Obviously I was like ‘I could never afford to record with you’ but he wasn’t worried about the money and said ‘let’s make it happen’, so I went over to America and stayed with him and we did some singles.

Was it good to be part of that scene?

It was amazing. The Americans have a very different approach to music, and to Brits as well, so that was nice to see.

There’s also a video out for the single. What was it like to record that?

Very painful! They shot a lot of confetti and powder paint and threw me on a trampoline that I fell off of after about two takes! All that kind of stuff; all good fun!

Definitely suffering for your art?

That’s one way to put it!

Over on your Facebook page you can listen to an older EP…

I’ve done a couple of EPs. I did a free one called ‘Heart’ which is when I was seventeen, and  I did a second EP called ‘Flaws’ with a chap called Dan Weller, and that got released when I was nineteen, and that has on it a song called ‘Minds and Hearts’ on it, which to this day I still like playing. Obviously when you get a little bit older you look back at your older material and, not say you’re embarrassed by it, but know you could better stuff now.

Do you have any live dates coming up?

We’re currently in the process of booking some in; we’re just waiting on confirmation. I’ll be posting all that on my Facebook and Twitter.

How does your live sound compare to your singles?

It’s very similar. Being the 21^st century we do make use of a lot of technology, so we’ve got lots of synths on sample pads and I play with a live drummer. I’m going to play with live synth and keys, and I play the guitar etc, so we’ve got quite a big sound and hopefully people enjoy it!

And what are your follows up for the single?

When I was over in America we did record a second single and that’s all good to go, and that’s going to be coming out in April / May time, which is all really exciting, and after that I’m going to be heading back off out to America to record the single after that! I’m going to be keeping busy.

Finally what are your big ambitions for 2017?

I’ve been pursuing music for a couple of years and I’d love to get in a position where I could say where I’d truly do it full-time, kind of have a fan base so if someone turns around to me and asks ‘what do you do’ my goal for the end of the year would be to say ‘I sing’. 

You can find out more about Calum and his music on his Facebook page and you can hear this interview and his song on Saturday 4th March 2017 on BCB 106.6FM at 6pm!

New Music Review #32

Ten tracks or albums to keep you entertained today!

Calum Foad - You & I

Poppy, catchy, radio-friendly, 'You and I' is a great slice of bouncy pop that will get your feet tapping with its vocal hookery. (7/10)

The Divine Comedy - Foreverland (LP)

Though this might sound like I'm speaking ill of the dead, 'Foreverland' is an album that sounds like the one David Bowie should have released. With the lead vocalist definitely channeling the singer in vocal tone and in musical style, this is a far more upbeat and listenable album than the similar sounding final swansong from DB. Opener 'Napoleon Complex' is a fun, swinging opener to the record, with the titular follow-up building up to a gentle mid-tempo ballad complete with whistling and an evocative tropical island feel. Lead single 'Catherine the Great' is a great Tudor-sounding hit that's distinctly the band's song whilst the throwback sound works well. 'Funny Peculiar' freshens things up with a call and response style over a sweet little piano riff. 'The Pact' is a nice distraction and second single 'To The Rescue' grows after a few listens thanks to its neat strings and gentle pacing.

The subtle Sparks feeling at points is emphasised on 'How Can You Leave Me on My Own' which is great thanks to its poppy vibe and tongue-in-cheek style. I mean, how many songs end with animal noise? 'I Joined the Foreign Legion (To Forget)' and 'My Happy Place' continue the perky feel to the record whilst 'A Desperate Man' switches back to Sparks with an Egyptian vibe. 'Other People' is a joke track that feels a bit like padding - perhaps intentionally - before 'The One Who Loves You' wraps up a surprisingly enjoyable album with a mixture of styles and a wry smile permeating the tracks. (7/10)

Elbow - Little Fictions (LP)

Opening with lead single 'Magnificent (She Says)', 'Little Fictions' the new ten track album from Elbow, is pretty much what you'd expect: a downbeat, low-key collection of dark tracks. It doesn't feel like one of Elbow's best, many of the songs pretty flat, familiar and bland, and Guy Garvey's vocals not exactly thrilling my bones. Throughout the album you want something to perk up and by the time 'K2' rolls around with its off-putting echo effects the album verges on monotony. Not my sort of thing I'm afraid. (4.5/10)

Jazz Mino - Footprints

Jazz Mino has released a succession of great pop singles and though 'Footprints' is quite a bit different from her 2016 work the production is spot in and the more club focus will bring more people into her fold, and it's certainly a grower. (7/10)

Jen Gloeckner - VINE (LP)

'VINE' is an LP of eleven tracks, each a haunting, instrumental focussed number, like a cross between Enigma and Royksopp. I wouldn't say any track particularly stands out as a single, but that's not the point, as this feels more like an album album, where it's meant to be listened to as a whole, and it's a good, ethereal, listenable piece with some mesmerising electronica and production work, and a strong dream-like quality. (6.5/10)

Lupe Fiasco - Drogas Light (LP)

Weighing in at a slightly unwieldy 61 minutes, 'Drogas Light' is an album of two halves. The first half - really two thirds - is a hefty collection of rnb and urban crossovers choc-full of the usual cliches and swears, though the production is top dollar. Out of these songs its the Rick Ross & BIG K.R.I.T featuring 'Tranqillo' that impresses the most thanks to its catchy hook-filled chorus. Then from 'Kill' it takes a bit of a turn, with a funkier more danceable vibe, with 'Pick Up The Phone', 'I'm Not Designed' and 'Wild Child' a really solid threesome, so different in sound I had to check I'd not accidentally mixed up two albums. With a faster pace, more hooks and a poppier sound these are vastly superior to everything that came before it, particularly the beat-heavy 'I'm Not Designed' and the catchy 'Wild Child'. If the back end of the album was the whole one this would be a solid eight, with the first less-impressive half a bit less. (6.5/10)

Paul Menel & The Essentials - Hey, Did You Hear About Paul?

The question-based title is a mish-mash of styles and sounds, coming together neatly into a gruffly sung indie tune that moves along quite nicely. (6.5/10)

Rodina - What If

Taken from her new album this gentle yet swinging indie-pop number boasts a fun jaunty-vibe that is smooth and relaxing in equal measure. (7/10)

Steve Ravensfield - No More Love

With hints of country, this harmonised soft-rock song keeps things ticking over neatly with some strong production and a bouncy, catchy beat. (7/10)

Wild Child - Fools

With a funky electronic riff this is catchy pop-rock number which builds up neatly into a fun chorus. (7/10)